Marci Ross, Assistant Director, Tourism Development, OTD, addressed the inaugural Grow Maryland Summit in Stevensville on December 1. The Grow Maryland Summit: The Future of Value-Added Agriculture was the first event of its kind devoted to this aspect of the state’s economy. (Value-added agriculture is altering or processing a raw agricultural product in a way to increase its value to the consumer. This in turn brings more revenue to the farmer, producer, or processor, and can be a powerful driver for tourism.) The conference was hosted by Grow Maryland and the Rural Maryland Council. Grow Maryland is a part of Grow and Fortify, a Baltimore-based management firm that develops and supports organizations that specialize in value-added agriculture, agritourism, craft beverages and other related industries. They launched Grow Maryland in 2015 as their non-profit arm, after a series of listening sessions throughout the state to help determine the needs of the industry.

On Monday, December 12, members of the OTD team and staff members from the Maryland Welcome Centers joined Dan Spedden and staff from Visit Hagerstown & Washington County for a daylong destination training workshop. Educational stops included Antietam National Battlefield, the Cushwa Basin on the C&O Canal, the new Cushwa Brewing Co. in Williamsport, and the historic Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown.

Pictured: OTD staff poses with Dan Spedden, President, Visit Hagerstown & Washington County, on stage at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown.

The Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) online Maryland Artist Marketplace is the perfect holiday shopping tool. Featured on MSAC’s website, the Marketplace is a one-stop shopping destination for unique works by Maryland jewelers, photographers, glass blowers, painters, sculptors, musicians, weavers, writers, and more. The Maryland Artist Marketplace features a comprehensive search engine allowing shoppers to search by category, price range, county of origin, and artist. The marketplace is designed to make it easy for those who wish to buy local and support Maryland businesses while providing a tool for consumers seeking to discover new artists. Artists who wish to sell through the site can opt-in through their existing Maryland Artist Registry account or, for first time creators, by creating an account through the registry. Follow this link and start your holiday shopping today.

Experience the quintessential holiday charm of this historic Maryland town with our Bel Air Main Street Sweepstakes. Explore Bel Air's charming Main Street and downtown area while supporting local, Maryland-owned businesses. Enter now to win a two-night stay at the Homewood Suites Bel Air, restaurant, entertainment and shopping packages, and more. With more than $1,000 in great gifts, this is your chance to win a local holiday shopping getaway you'll never forget. Click here to enter.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.